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November 23, 2024
 

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Eric Johnston

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Eric Johnston
Japan Times
JAPAN / EXPLAINER
May 4, 2010
Nara marks its long history, but not without a few snags
Over the past few months, you may have noticed a cartoon character — a boy Buddha wearing deer antlers — appear on signs in stores, arcades and train stations. This is not a new attraction at Disneyland or an advertisement for some other theme park but Sento-kun, the official mascot of the Nara Heijo-kyo...
JAPAN
Apr 25, 2010
Nara kicks off anniversary celebrations
NARA — Celebrations to mark the 1,300th anniversary of the founding of Nara's ancient capital of Heijokyo kicked off Saturday morning, the official start of an event officials hope will attract 2.5 million visitors to the historical site, especially restored for the event, and up to 12 million visitors...
JAPAN
Apr 23, 2010
Tokunoshima is a risky gambit
TOKUNOSHIMA, Kagoshima Pref. — When Tokunoshima, an island with about 26,000 residents officially governed by Kagoshima Prefecture but counted as part of the Satsunan Islands that lie closer to Okinawa than Kyushu, first emerged as a candidate host for U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, local reaction...
JAPAN
Apr 23, 2010
Plenty of sites already considered, rejected
OSAKA — With possible new locations for the Futenma air base being suggested or reported on a seemingly daily basis, Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama now has very few political options to propose to the U.S.
JAPAN
Apr 23, 2010
Technically Kagoshima but Ryukyu in its soul
TOKUNOSHIMA, Kagoshima Pref. — Astute readers will notice this story is datelined "Kagoshima Prefecture." But given that this island lies just southwest of Amami-Oshima and roughly 100 km from the northern tip of Okinawa, it's no surprise that Tokunoshima feels more like a part of the Ryukyu Islands...
JAPAN
Apr 19, 2010
Tokunoshima residents rally against hosting Futenma
At least 11,000 people gathered Sunday on Tokunoshima to protest a plan to move U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma from Okinawa to the island.
JAPAN
Apr 17, 2010
Media get glimpse of Nara's 1,300th anniversary celebrations
NARA — A press preview of the celebrations for the 1,300th anniversary of the founding of Heijyo-kyo as Japan's ancient capital, which officially begin on April 24, was held Friday, as Nara officials scramble to put the final touches on an event they hope will boost the area's appeal as a tourist destination....
JAPAN
Apr 10, 2010
Health care, access to doctors at heart of Kyoto governor's race
KYOTO — Health care and the availability of doctors in remote areas are key issues in Sunday's Kyoto gubernatorial election, pitting two-term Gov. Keiji Yamada against newcomer Yusuke Mon.
JAPAN
Apr 8, 2010
Japan's eco-credentials assailed
OSAKA — Six months before Japan hosts a major U.N. conference on biodiversity, the government and major corporations involved in the issue are conducting a series of events to raise public awareness about threats to the world's ecosystems and what can be done to save natural habitats.
JAPAN
Mar 26, 2010
Osaka, Hyogo step up battle over Itami's fate
OSAKA — With resolutions and sharp words between their governors, Osaka and Hyogo prefectures stepped up their battle over Itami airport this week.
JAPAN
Mar 22, 2010
Immigration detainees end hunger strike
OSAKA — Human rights activists said Sunday that around 70 detainees at the West Japan Immigration Control Center stopped their 11-day hunger strike Friday evening after the center reportedly agreed to meet with both detainees and activists Tuesday.
JAPAN
Mar 16, 2010
White Beach base site said credible
OSAKA — The proposal to build a replacement base for U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma off the Katsuren Peninsula in central Okinawa Island, stretching from the White Beach Naval Facility to a nearby small island, is the latest idea to be floated in the contentious relocation abyss.
JAPAN
Mar 12, 2010
70 immigration detainees on hunger strike
OSAKA — At least 70 detainees at the West Japan Immigration Control Center, which has long been criticized by human rights groups and Diet members, have been on a hunger strike since Monday, center officials and volunteers helping them confirmed Thursday.
JAPAN
Mar 10, 2010
Shipment of nuclear waste arrives from U.K.
OSAKA — The first delivery of at least 850 canisters of high-level radioactive vitrified waste arrived Tuesday morning by ship from the U.K. in Rokkasho, Aomori Prefecture, where it will sit in storage for decades before being buried deep underground.
JAPAN
Mar 4, 2010
Battle lines drawn across Nagoya land
OSAKA — Home to a biologically diverse "satoyama" ecosystem, a Nagoya land tract is at the center of a struggle between the owners who want to develop it and local citizens who want it preserved to demonstrate environmental responsibility.
JAPAN / EXPLAINER
Feb 23, 2010
Joint effort on track to take shinkansen system to U.S.
When U.S. President Barack Obama took office, one thing he pitched was a "Green New Deal" that would reduce fossil fuel use, and high-speed passenger trains like those in Japan and Europe were part of his sweeping plan.
JAPAN
Feb 20, 2010
Kansai execs fret affairs of the state
KYOTO — Senior business leaders in the Kansai region have long been able to rely on smooth relations with local and central government politicians sympathetic to their causes.
JAPAN
Feb 6, 2010
Nara fears 1,300th anniversary flop
NARA — The ancient capital of Nara is celebrating the 1,300th anniversary of its founding throughout 2010 with hundreds of events that officials hope will bring in nearly 13 million visitors and raise the city's profile domestically and internationally as a historical and cultural tourism center.
JAPAN
Feb 6, 2010
Startup firms, innovation key to ties: Roos
KYOTO — Innovation and entrepreneurship will not only revitalize Japan's economy but also help strengthen and build upon Japan-U.S. relations that have become strained by security issues, U.S. Ambassador to Japan John Roos told senior Kansai business leaders Friday afternoon.
JAPAN
Feb 5, 2010
Kansai business chiefs lash out at Hatoyama
KYOTO — Kansai business leaders expressed strong dissatisfaction Thursday with the administration of Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama, charging that last summer's change of government has led to a lot of rhetoric but little action.
Tokyo Metro’s overseas efforts begin in earnest with London deal
Tokyo Metro will soon have a role in the running of London's Elizabeth Line, a major train route serving the U.K.’s capital city and environs.
U.S. aircraft carrier returns to Japan carrying navy’s ‘most capable fighter’
U.S. 7th Fleet Commander Vice Adm. Fred Kacher speaks to reporters shortly after the arrival of aircraft carrier USS George Washington at Yokosuka naval base in Kanagawa Prefecture on Friday.
Man charged with murder allegedly made victim date other men for money
A car carrying suspect Ryotaro Masuda, who was indicted for allegedly beating his 25-year-old girlfriend to death, leaves the Shibuya Police Station in Tokyo on Thursday.
Russia fired experimental ballistic missile at Ukraine, Putin says
Ukrainian firefighters work on a spot following an airstrike in Dnipro on Thursday.
Ex-yokozuna Kitanofuji dies at 82
Yokozuna Kitanofuji enters the ring during the May 1970 grand sumo tournament in Tokyo.
Shohei Ohtani wins National League MVP award
Shohei Ohtani celebrates after hitting a three-run home run against the Padres during the National League Division Series at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles last month.
The slow-burn success of ‘A Samurai in Time’
A 19th-century warrior gets struck by lightning and wakes to find himself in 21st-century Kyoto in Junichi Yasuda’s surprise hit “A Samurai in Time.”
Around a quarter of Japan married couples in their 20s met through dating apps
A survey released by an organization promoting “Good Couples Day” shows that 24% of couples in their 20s met their marriage partner through a dating app.
'Tokyo Swindlers': Get deep into the minds of real estate con artists
In Ko Shinjo's "Tokyo Swindlers," a group of con artists manipulates real estate giants into falsified deals within the highly competitive, quick market.
Japan, U.K. and Italy discuss inviting more countries to joint fighter project
A new concept model of a next-generation fighter jet to be jointly developed by Japan, Britain and Italy is on display in Farnborough, Hampshire, in July.

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